Corn harvester



Feb. 12 1924. 1,483,775 0. F. BUSSE CORN 'HARVESTER 4 Sheets-Slieet 1 Filed April 9, 1921 SM I V 3 i QR w Q Q U, i Q Immu R Fri 3 5 I gwwntoz Caviar .1? 13111552.

Feb. 12 1924.

c. F. BUSSE CORN HARVESTER Filed April 9, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 grime/"km Barterl. Busse C. F, BUSSE CORN HARVESTER Feb. '12, 1924.

Feb. 12 1924.

C. F. BUSSE CORN HARVESTER Filed April 9, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 glwuem lozflarigrE Buss w Patented Feb. 12, 1924.

Aren't caries.

CARTER F. BUSSE, OE CHABZOIS, MISSOURI.

1 i v CORN nanvnsrnn.

Application filed April 9,

of lrlissouri, have invented certain'new and v useful Improvements in Corn Harvesters, of which the following is a SJQClfiCiLtlOll.

This invention relates to harvesters, and the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved corn harvester attachment for tractors, which is adapted to be detachablv connected directly to the tractor and carried by the tractor at the forward end thereof.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide an improved corn harvester, which will effectively strip the ears of corn from the standing stalks and depositthe same into a suitable hopper carried by the platform, the hopper having means arranged therein for carrying the ears of corn to a suitable barge or wagon which can be driven alongside of the tractor.

i A further object of the invention is to provide an improved tractor carried har- ,vester having a novel means for stripping the ears of corn from the standing corn stalks and for throwing the ears of corn into the hopper.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel means for husking the corn when so desired, during the elevating of the ears of corn.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel means for associating the harvester attachment with the tractor, so that the height of the harvester can be readily regulated according to the character of the corn or other grain which is to beharvested.

With these and other-objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction. arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a tractor with the improved corn harvesting attachment connected therewith.

Figure 2 is atop plan view of the improved corn harvester, operatively connected with a tractor. p

Figure 3 is a rearelevation of the harvester attachment, showing the supporting 1921. Serial No. esaeer.

arms therefor in section, as well as the drive belt.

Figure 1- is a longitudinal section through the improved corn harvester attachment. 7 Figure 5 is a transverse section through the improved harvester and supporting means carried by the tractor taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure dis a fragmentary longitudinal section through a portion of the harvester,

showing the means carried by the elevator so as to prevent the husking of the corn, when it is desired to retain the husk thereon.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A indicates a tractor, and I; the improved harvesting attachment there or.

The corn harvester attachment B is adapted to be attachedto an type of tractor, and the tractor Ahas been shown merely for, illustrating the use of the invention, and it is to be understood'that the same may be of any desired make,size or style.

The tractor A, as shown includes the frame 10, the front steering wheels 11,

which are mounted uponthe usual steering spindles carried by the forward dead axle, the radiator 12, and the drive pulley 13.

The improved harvester attachment B includes the hopper C, the stripping platform l), the pulling and carrying reel F, the conveyor mechanism G, the elevating mech anism H, the husking mechanism 1, and the connecting means J for attaching the harvester to the tractor. Thehopper C in eludes an elongated body, preferably but not necessarily formed of sheet metal. and includes the front and rear walls 15 and 16 and the upper wall. 17; The front and rear walls 15 and 16 are connected respectively adjacent to their lower ends to strength beams 18, and the hopper may be braced adiacent to its ends, by 'U-shap'ed strength beams 20. The beams 20 may be of channel construction, if so desired.

The hopper C extends transversely across the tractor A and projects laterally from one side thereof. The forward wall 15 of the hopper is provided with a longitudinally extending elongated opening 21, through which the ears of corn are adapted to enter into the hopper, when the same are pulled fromthe stalks by means of the stripping zontally disposed flanges 27 and 28. The flange 28 is secured to the flange 23 formed platform D and the pulling and carrying reel F. The lower edges of the walls l5 and 16 at the opposite ends thereof are provided with depending feet 22, the purpose o which will be hereinafter more fullyde scribed, and the lower ends of the. rear wall 16 between the feet 22 is provided with an outwardly extending flange 23. A pan is arranged in the lower end of the hopper G and includes the longitudinally extending lower wal125, and the outwardly extending upwardly disposed inclined side walls 26. These side walls 26 are provided with horigrooved as at 33' for the reception of the an v gular ends 31 of the prongs. This bar 32 firmly clamps the angular ends of the prongs in en agement with the forward side wall 26 of the pan 24;. If so desired,the end prongs 30 may curve outwardly as at 85. It can be seen that these prongs extend substantially flush with the flange 27 formed on the forward side wall 26 of the pain In order to prevent falling of the ears of corn off the side of the stripping platform, the side plates 36' are provided. These side plates 36 may be secured in any preferred manner to the front wall 15 of the hopper.

It canbe seen that the stalks of corn will ride in between the prongs, and that the prongs will have a tendency to pull the ears of corn therefrom.

In order to facilitate the pulling or strip ping of the ears of corn from the stalks, and to carry the ears of corn into the hopper and onto the pan 24, the reel F is provided.

The reel T includes a longitudinally ex tending shaft 88 to which are rigidly attached the side arms 39'. These side arms have their terminals connected by longitudinally extending channel beams 40, which carry the resiliently mounted stripping fingers 41. These stripping fingers 41 are slidably carried by the channel beams 40, which may be disposed in oppositerelation to each other, and the'fingers have coiled around the same: the expanslon coil springs 412. These coil springs 42seat against suit-- able washers or pins carried by the prongs and'against the inner portion of the channel beams. Thus it canbe seen that the fingers are normally urged outwardly. lVhenthe -reel F is El: operation, itcan be Seen thatthe the s fingers will be swept downwardly, and into engagement with the ears of corn, and which will Hill the same off of the stalks and throw ne intothe hopper. In order to perinit rotation of the reel, a transversely extending shaft 4-3 is rotatably mounted in' suitable beari carried by the outer end of the hopper. This shaft 43 is connected by suitable bevelled gearing-la with the main drive shaft which is adapted to be driven in preferred manner from the-tractors The forward end of the shaft 43 is connected by suitable bevelled gearing as, with the shaft 38.

shown, the shaft 45 is provided with a drive pulley f6, which has trained around the same a drive belt 45?, which can be in turn trained around the drive pulley 13 of the tractor. It is to be understood that the shafts 45 and 43 can be driven in any preferred manner from the tractor, and that the arrangement of these shafts can be varied in accordance with the style of tractor with which tuie harvester is being used.

The conveyor G is arranged in the hopper C, and is adapted to carry the ears of corn stripped from the stalks to one. end of the device. This conveyor mechanism includes a belt consisting of a pair of oppositely disposed endlesschains Al? which are trained around suitable sprocket wheels a8 arranged at the ends of the hopper.', The sprocket wheels 48 are keyed or otherwise secured to transversely extending sha ts 49 mounted in suitable bearings carried by the depending feet 22 of the front and rear walls of the hopper. 'The chains l? are connected by suitable transversely extending flights 50. The shaft 49 which is directly below the drive shaft as may be driven by means of a suitable sprocket chain 51 which may be trained around sprocket wheels keyed respectively to the shaft 43, and the mentioned shaft 49..

The elevator mechanism H also comprises an endless belt. This endless belt is mounted between a pair of side plates 52,

ll. w

.the inner ends of which are connected by suitable hingedinembers 53, with the inner feet 22 of'the front and rear walls 15 and 16.

The'sideplates 52 adjacent-to their upper ends have pivotally connected thereto as at 54- a yoke The inner end'ofthis yoke 55 carries a rod 56, which is adapted to extend between a pair of spaced ears 57, which endless chains 50, which may be connected by suitableeui plates or the like (31. These chainsare l lined around pairs t upper and lower spri'icltet wheels (52, which'are keyed or otherwise secured to suitable upper and lower shafts (S3 and 64.. *The innermost In order to permithusking olthe corn,

the mechanism 1 is provided. This husk ing mechanism 1 comprises a plurality of huslring rollers 66, which'are provided with longitudinally extending pulling teeth 67. As clearly shown in Figures i and 6 of the drawings, these teeth 67 are intermeshed,

so that the rollers will be synchronously operated. These rollers are provided with end spindles 68, which are rotatably mounted in bearing blocks 69 which are slidably 1nounted in longitudinally extending J-shaped.

guide ways 70, which are secured to the innersurface of the side plates 52. These guide ways 70 have mounted therein expan sion springs 71-, which bear against the outermost pair of bearing blocks, and thus resili entlvhold the huslring rollers together. It

cartbe seen that the husking rollers 66 will be operated in pairs, that is, every other roller will be operated in opposite direction, which will tend to pull the husks from the ears of corn. These'rollers are driven from one of the spur gear IVl'lGGlS 65, and the lowermost husking roller 66 has its spindle provided with a relatively small spur gear wheel72, which meshes with one otthe sprocket wheels 65.

In case it is not desired to remove the husk from the corn. a shield is utilized. This shield '73 can be formed of relatively thin metal and inserted between the upper run of the elevator belt 1-]: and the rollers 66. It can be seen that the side edges or this plate will be placed upon the upper edges of the guides 70. This plate then forms a table for the upper run of the elevator belt, as in the usual constructions of elevators.

The means J, which has been provided for connecting the harvester B with the tractor A may also be varied, without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims, so as to accord with various types of tractors.

As shown this connecting means J includes pairs of upper and lowerrearwardly extending arms 75. These arms have their inner ends provided with guides 76. These guides 76 are slidably mounted upon the vertically disposed beams 77 which are provided with guide flanges 78. These beams 77 may be connected by upper and lower arms 79, with the radiator 12 and lowered so as to regulate the heightof the in relation to the corn the :ierward dead axle'of the trv tu, in.

any preferred manner. It thus can 3 seen 4 I 1 r 1-" r- 'fl' v 1. 1 .Jg, uilrll. ins nai vestei suitably connected at. r thetractor, and iii order to facilitate the sliding movement of he harvester, and to hold the same in any preferredadjusted position, a raising and lowering shattiill,

is provided. This shaitflO is Mb) h GXtGllOI screw threads and 1S threaded ito a cross beam 81 carried by the upper ends of I.

the beams 7'7. The lower end of the si 80 is rotatably mounted in a suitab e b 111 82 carried by a cross rod 83 carried by the lower pair of arms To ried by the hopper C. The upper end of the shaft 80 is provided with crank 83 for facilitating the rotation thereof. By turning the crank it can be seen'that the (Jill'- harvester B can be raised and stripping platform D to be harvested.

In operation of the improved harvester, the same is connected with the tractor, as shown in l igures 1 and 2 of the drawings,

and the height of the tractor niay bead- 31.}St6d,tLS heretobefore described. The harvester is then set in operation, and'the same is driven over the field ot'corn to be harvested. The prongs 30 will ride in between the stalks and tend to pull the ears of corn therefrom, whilethe stripping fingers 41 of the reel F will forcibly engage the ears of corn and pull the same from the stalks and throw the same into the hopper. The ears of corn will thenbe, engaged by the conveyand attached directly to an ordinary type of tractor, and which is of exceptionally simple and durable construction, and which will not only pull the ears of corn from the standing stalks but will also husk the ears of corn as the same are being elevated.

Changes in details may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention; but,

I claim:

1. A corn harvesting machine comprising a longitudinally extending hopper, a conveyor belt mounted within said hopper, a forwardly extending platform carried by the hopper, the platform including a plurality ofspaced prongs. a rotatable reel carried by the hopper and arranged above the platform, a plurality of spring pressed sliding stripping fingers carried by the reel for cooperation with the platform, and an elevating belt arranged on one end of said conveyor belt for receiving the ears of corn therefrom, and means for'raising and lowermg said elevator belt.

2. In acorn harvesting machine, means for stripping ears of corn from the standing stalks, an elevator belt, a plurality of husking rollers arranged transversely of the belt and between the runs thereof, means for operating said husking rollers, and a removable table arranged to be inserted between said rollers and the uppermost run of said elevator belt.

3. In a corn harvesting machine, means for strlpping ears of corn from the standing stalks, an elevator belt, a plurality of belt and between the runs thereof, means husking rollers arranged transversely of the for operating said husking rollers, a re movable table arranged to be inserted between said rollers and the uppermost run of said'elevator belt, and means for holding the husking rollers in resilient intermeshing engagement.

4. The combination with a tractor, of a corn harvesting machine carried by and arranged in front of the tractor comprising a stripplng platform including aplurality of prongs, means for raising and lowering the platform in relation to the ground, a

conveyor belt arranged in rear of the platform, a reel arranged above the platform for carrying the ears of corn stripped from the stalk onto the conveyor belt, husking of, means for operating said huskingrolls,

and a removable shield arranged between said husking rolls and the uppermost run of the elevator belt.

e 6. The combination with a platform, of a pair of vertically disposed rigid guides carried by the platformgof a harvesting machine including attaching members slidably mounted on said guide ways, means forrais ing and lowering the memberson said guide ways and for holding the same in any preferred adjusted position, the harvesting ma chine including a stripping platform, and means for carrying the harvested ears of corn away from said platform, said means including a conveyor belt, husking rolls arranged transversely of the belt between the runs thereof, means for operating said husking rolls, and a removable shield arranged to be inserted between said roll s'and the uppermost run of the belt;

7. In a corn harvester, a longitudinally extending casing, means carried by the casing for stripping ears of corn from standing stalks, aconveyor belt arranged in the casing, an elevator belt arranged at one end of the casing and adapted to receive the ears of corn from the conveyor belt, a plu rality of husking rolls arranged between the runsof one of said belts, and a shield disposed between the husking rolls and the upper run of the belt.

' 8. A corn harvester including a conveyor belt, husking rolls arranged between the runs of said belt, and a shield interposed between the upper run of the belt and the husking rolls.

CARTER F. BUSSE. 

